no-nonsense

adjective

no-non·​sense ˈnō-ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s 

-ˈnän(t)-sən(t)s

: tolerating no nonsense : serious, businesslike

a no-nonsense manager

Synonyms of no-nonsense

• solemn
• serious
• stern
• professional
• earnest

Examples of no-nonsense in a Sentence

a no-nonsense gymnastics coach

Recent Examples on the Web

But this one is in a pretty brutal industrial town, very no-nonsense. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 7 July 2026

This unvarnished, no-nonsense authenticity helps explain Aguirre’s relatability with players and his ability to convey his instructions. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Miranda Priestly, the no-nonsense visionary, pushes for excellence and learns to temper her high standards with a more collaborative outlook. — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

The 26-year-old actress addressed the general confusion surrounding her character’s age on the Yellowstone spinoff and confirmed that her no-nonsense cowgirl is, in fact, older than her high school boyfriend Carter (Finn Little). — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for no-nonsense

• nonsense

Kids Definition

no-nonsense

adjective

: putting up with or including no nonsense : serious

a no-nonsense manager